Ways to Give

Your first step in making a gift to the School of Public Health is to consider the types of assets you may contribute and the major giving methods. This page provides more detailed information on each method. You may also contact a member of the development staff at any time.

Cash, Check, and Credit Card

Cash, check, and credit card offer convenience, and gifts made with these methods return a charitable income tax deduction equal to the amount donated. Checks should be made out to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and include the designation of your choice in the memo line. Please visit our Giving to Maryland: The School of Public Health page to explore various giving opportunity designations.

Checks can be mailed to:

School of Public Health
Development Office
2242Q School of Public Health Building
4200 Valley Drive
College Park, Maryland 20742

Appreciated Securities

Stocks and securities grant a full deduction equal to the fair market value of the donated shares. These gifts also generate a double benefit: donors pay no long-term capital gains taxes on the sale, thereby lowering the cost to them compared to giving the same amount as cash, check, or credit card.

Illiquid Assets

Real estate, land, personal property, non-publicly traded shares, artwork, and other illiquid assets offer donors the double benefit of a fair market value charitable deduction and the ability to avoid long-term capital gains taxes—with the additional added convenience of not having to be involved in the sale.

IRA Assets

Donors 70 ½ and older can take advantage of new provisions allowing direct charitable transfers of IRA assets of up to $100,000 per donor per year. These transfers count toward Required Minimum Distributions and are not considered taxable withdrawals.

Estate or Planned Gifts

These gifts are planned now but completed later—usually after the donor’s life—and are revocable by the donor in the meantime. Examples include:

Provisions in a will or living trust giving the university a specific amount, a percentage of the estate, or a specific asset

Beneficiary designations of retirement funds, like IRAs and 401(k)s and life insurance

Bequests to:

Fund an endowment or make a larger gift than is possible during life

Plan a gift that will only happen after and if other estate goals are met

The Founders Legacy Circle honors all benefactors, living and deceased, whose gifts through will, trust, or through other planned gifts—such as a charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust, life estate, etc.—help to ensure the future excellence and impact of the University of Maryland and its students.

Life Income Gifts

You can also irrevocably donate an asset but keep a benefit for yourself or your family. Donors can give assets while retaining:

Income from the asset either in fixed or variable payments. This is done through a Charitable Gift Annuities or Charitable Remainder Trust.

The asset itself. This is made possible by donating the income from that asset to the university for a set period of time, with the asset returning to the donor or family at the end of the term through a Charitable Lead Trust. Charitable Lead Trusts deliver immediate, usable cash to the university.

The use of the asset, if it is a personal residence—including vacation properties and second homes—or farm. The donor can transfer ownership but live in and use the property for life via a Retained Life Estate gift.